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Record number receive study abroad scholarships

July
11, 2008 -- A
record number of SF State students have been awarded Gilman International
Scholarships enabling them to study abroad in 2008 – 09. This fall,
18 students from diverse backgrounds will receive up to $5,000 each toward
the cost of studying abroad.

Gilman International Scholarships, funded by the U.S. Department of State, support students of limited financial means and those from diverse ethnic backgrounds to spend time studying abroad. SF State students have a strong track record of winning these prestigious scholarships. The number of recipients for fall 2008 has doubled since the previous year. With a total of 18 Gilman scholarships this year, SF State ranks number two in the United States for the number scholarships received.

2008 Gilman recipients Benjamin Zhang (right) who will
study in South Korea and Tuyen Huynh who will study in Hong Kong.

Based on both need and merit, the scholarship is awarded to encourage study in countries outside of Western Europe and Australia and in fields of study underrepresented in study abroad programs.

SF State civil engineering major Benjamin Zhang will spend a year studying
in South Korea, where he hopes to master the Korean language and build
a network of friends in Asia. "It's unusual for an engineering student
to study abroad in Korea but I'm convinced it will be worth it," Zhang
said. "When
I come back to SF State I will be in my final year and I plan to encourage
more engineering students to study abroad."

As part of the Gilman application, each student must propose a project outlining how they will inspire other students to study abroad once they return to the U.S. This year's recipients plan to reach out to immigrant communities, high schools and community colleges and their peers at SF State, encouraging others to experience new places, cultures and languages through study abroad.